Posts tagged: radiation - Todd's Journey

Radioactive Man

May 03, 2024 - Posted in The Journey by Todd with comments

Yesterday Todd was transferred to the Ottawa General Hospital for the day. There he met with his Radiation Oncologist to go over his treatment plan and get prepared for treatment (including getting some new tattoos; a few little dots to help with alignment). In the afternoon he received his first dose of radiation. Todd was then transferred back to the Winchester Hospital to rest and recuperate. It was a busy day, and while some parts of it were a bit uncomfortable, Todd remains in good spirits.

Todd will now rest at the Winchester Hospital; his new pain management plan has helped with his comfort and he has gotten his appetite back. Next week he will return to the General for his second dose of treatment, and they will also decide if further treatment is necessary at that point.

Once the cancer has been 'zapped' - as one of the radio-oncologists said - and dealt with, we can then move on to rebuilding the strength in Todd's hip and leg and hopefully get him back home! The cats miss him very much (apparently I am not quite as liberal with the treats as Todd is).

Jamie

The Treatment Plan

September 28, 2023 - Posted in The Journey by Todd with comments

Some of you have asked me what my actual Cancer treatment plan is overall. So for those of you who asked, and those of you who care to know, here is the overall plan.

I am currently undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (pre-chemo therapy) for four cycles (possibly up to six cycles) which should end around mid-November. The goal of the neoadjuvant chemo is to stop the growth of, and possibly even shrink (or kill) some of the cancer is my system BEFORE I begin the main Cancer treatment plan.

Mid-November (after the neoadjuvant chemo) they will conduct more CT scans and compare those to my August 31st CT scan to see how well the chemo has worked at stopping the growth of, or shrinking the tumors.

Once they evaluate the success of the neoadjuvant chemo, they will have to decide to proceed with chemo-radiation treatment, or look at surgical alternatives. There is still a possibility I may lose my bladder if it appears the neoadjuvant chemo has not worked at reducing tumor size or if it appears the cancer is still spreading.

If it appears all was successful at stopping the growth of the cancer they will proceed with the main cancer treatment of chemo-radiation. They may also, at that time, decide whether my nephrostomy tubes can be removed, however that will depend on whether or not the neoadjuvant chemo has shrunk the tumors in my bladder (ureters) allowing for proper drainage from my kidney to the bladder.

If I begin the main cancer treatment of chemo-radiation, I will be going five days a week (Mon to Fri) for radiation treatments, with a small chemo treatment every Monday that I am in radiation treatment.

Following the chemo-radiation treatment, they will conduct more CT scans to look for remaining cancer. They may conduct more post-radiation chemotherapy at that time.

The ultimate success will be a finding of no more cancer detected, meaning that my cancer is in remission (not spreading or growing, or competely undetectable).

That's the overall Cancer treatment plan. Let's hope it works. :o)